Reports of the San Diego Opera's demise have been greatly exaggerated. On Monday, the opera company announced its decision to remain open after reaching and surpassing its goal to raise $1 million by May 19.
As recently as last month, the situation looked dire for the financially troubled company, which had plans to shut down if the crowdfunding goal was not reached.
But the impressive outpouring of financial support from the community enabled the company to announce its 2015 season, which will feature 3 operas: La Boheme, Don Giovanni, and John Luther Adams' Nixon in China.
"The public spoke, we listened, and we're open for business," said Board President Carol Lazier, "and do we have some great news to share with you!"
The crowdfunding campaign raised a total of $2,116,376 in donations, from more than 2400 donors, as of Sunday, May 18.
With that fundraising goal safely in the rearview mirror, the company posted the following message on its homepage to its many supporters:
"Thank you. You saved San Diego Opera.
Two short months ago, we never thought this moment would happen. The news was dire and the future of San Diego Opera seemed hopeless.
And then you stepped up. You spread the word, donated, tweeted and posted to Facebook and, because of an amazing and dedicated community, San Diego Opera is moving forward."
However, the company will be moving forward without its former director, Ian Campbell. According to a statement released May 15, Campbell and the company have mutually decided to "end their formal association with each other."
Campbell spearheaded the original attempt to shut the company down after its 2014 season, due to declining donations and ticket sales.
When Campbell announced the company's imminent shutdown, many music lovers in the community were very vocal in their support of the opera company. And they were willing to back up their words with dollars, which means that the company will live to see its 50th anniversary next year.
San Diego Opera has some special events in store for its golden jubilee: special gala concerts of favorite arias, duets, ensembles and choruses with the San Diego Symphony at Copley Symphony Hall, as well as other celebratory events to be announced. And there will be much to celebrate, after narrowly escaping the fate of so many other cash-strapped arts organizations in the U.S.
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